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Missing Molalla woman's body found near Butte Creek Road

The body of Janice Lynn Ernest was found by searchers Thursday afternoon/

Searchers found the body of Janice Lynn Ernest, a Molalla woman missing since March 13 Thursday afternoon in the woods near Butte Creek Road, not far from where her car was found Sunday.

After conducting an exhaustive search and rescue operation in the area near Butte Creek and Sawtell roads, searchers found her body in the wooded area about 3 p.m. Thursday, March 27.No signs of foul play were discovered, deputies said.

Ernest had been reported missing from her Molalla home on Sunday, March 16. Her car was found abandoned on the side of Butte Creek Road on March 16. Then on March 26, a Scotts Mills couple identified Ernest from a photo as a woman they had seen walking down Butte Creek Road near her abandoned car on March 14.

The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office offered its deepest condolences to Ernests family and friends and offers thanks to all the volunteers who donated many hours to the search. Search and Rescue (SAR) Coordinators from the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office have been in the area searching since her car was found. SAR Coordinators were assisted by the Oregon Army National Guard, Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue, Portland Mountain Rescue, Mountain Wave Communications, Washington and Marion County Search and Rescue resources, Oregon State Police and the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office. Clackamas County SAR Coordinators also give thanks the public for the tips they provided. Citizen tips and media coverage were instrumental in helping them to focus their search in what is a very dense wilderness area. Without citizen tips, searchers would not have had a place to start, deputies said.